Knox College - Gale Yearbook (Galesburg, IL)

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I administration and initiated plans for keeping ,Knox College in closer touch with the s-econdary schools of the state. Later, when a member of the Knox faculty in close touch with the Alumni was needed to help in the endowment campaign, Professor Griffith was the natural choice. and his ability to think the problem through and to administer the details of a large movement like this largely contributed to its success. Professor Grifhth is, however, first and foremost, a teacher. His interests in all phases of college life, athletics, debating and the rest, springs from, his perception of their influence upon the class room work and upon the educational, ideal. All his students testify to the interest of his class roo-nm quizzes, the lucidity of his explanations and his ca- pacity to get a student to think for himself. No instructor in the college feels greater concern in relating his cou.rses to the life work and to the individual needs of his students. He has little sympathy with the idea that all students, whatever their preparation or natural capacity, shall be ground through the saine m.ill+-that the college product shall be uni- formp His own quick perceptions, intense earnestness and high stand- ard-s of scholarship 'make him somewhat intolerant of student slowness andineffectiven-ess, but his severity is relieved by a lively sense of humor and a great personal interest in th.e students, welfare. . Professor Griffith came to Knox College when Dr. Bateman and the Knox Triumvirate were still-living' and when their influence pervaded the college. He has 'caught the spirit of these men and with unusual effectiveness has been able. to transmit to the undergraduate the strong religious conviction, theviidealism and the moral zeal that characterizes the Knox tradition. It issuch men as Professor Griffith that have given Knox College its reputation and influence in the state and nation. C0 if K W7 ,r ' V if P .f-,,,14,-:sas xci:t:'1'r'11'g i- frm - f'--- M..- x'.i:-ff-sl ' Wxflfg -' f ' ,:':.-'izeffff -ff:--. ,, A -,. F ,gr ,.,., -ggxgl-Y ,.,. f ,. - I V . rw gf, f1f,.4,.::.---'fr ...-, . K , . y - A. ' -l sw ' Htl?-5 ., -- X25-1: ' 'nli' .Q i Y 'PK' , .. V, S

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The New Science Hall Wlien the George Davis Science Hall is thrown open for use next fall, those students whose courses include work in science will have at their command facil- ities unsurpassed by any institution in this part of the country. An hour spent in and about the structure as it stands to-day will serve to convince the expert scien- tist and tyro alike that suggestions in the way of improvement would be almost su Jerfluous. , 1 While at the present writing it is impossible to give anything like a detailed description of the building and its contents in a finished state, the work has been rushed to such a stage of completion as to permit of securing a good general idea of what the rooms will be like when all the apparatus and accessories have been installed. The building itself, both inside and outside, is for all practical pur- poses fmished, and for some time has been open to the inspection of the students and public. As one of these, let us spend a half hour or so in going through from basement to attic and noting the general features. The average person does not want to worry hisbrain with details anyhow, and it is possible for the ordinary one to take a more satisfactory survey now than it will be later, when there will be present a bewildering outlay of mystifying scientific apparatus. Let us approach the building from the north, for it fronts that direction. standing as it does on theinortheast corner of the campus. To the one familiar with the campus it is evident that a number of trees have been sacrificed, and this fact may cause a pang of regret. But contemplation of that which fills their places leads to the conviction that they have fallen before a worthy successor, martyrs to the march of twentieth century progress and the rising tide and usefulness of Old Knox. . As we step inside we forget all about the feeling of regret in the flood of satisfaction attending the first look around. The basement is the first point of inspection, and to all appearances it would do credit to a floor any number of stories higher. It is spacious, well ventilated, well heated and well lighted. On the south is a large unpacking roomjdrays with-supplies drive alongside the building and the boxes are slid down into this room upon an inclined plane. NfVhen unpacked their contents can be conveyed to any Hoor by an elevator in the corner. Across the corridor from this room is the storeroom for explosives, fitted with an iron door and embodying every precautionary appliance. Other rooms contain apparatus for hot water heating, fans for ventilation, etc. In the southwest cor- ner is the cistern, large and lined with concrete. Water for this comes down from the roof by means of a system of pipes inside the building. In addition to the space in these various rooms, quite a portion remains, unexcavated. The first Hoor is given over to the department of Physics. One of the most striking features on this Floor is in the shape of the heavy piers that have been sunk in several of the rooms where experimental and machine work is carried ong these piers rest on a stratum of clay far below the surface of the ground. But solid as these are, the floors are built in such a manner that they do not touch them at any point, and any possibility of jarring is entirely obviated. A number of these piers have been sunk in the laboratories which occupy the east end. The advanced and elementary laboratories are separated by a partitiong however, a large open window has been left in the center and the instructor can, by having his swinging chair on a raised platform, supervise the work in both rooms at the same time. West of the laboratory on the north in order are the professor's private office, the laboratory for special work in electricity, a special room for optical work and four well equipped dark rooms. A feature of these dark rooms not 'ordinarily met with is a perfect Ventilating system, and it should be said in passing that the whole building will be ventilated by the most efficient fan and suc- tion system in use to-day. On the southwest is the shop for heavy work, with more heavy piers. East of this on the south is the lecture room with the seats for students inclined a la Auditorium. Many students may not know that thev are.s1ttmg over a mass. of long apparatus and material too long to beistored ia ordinary places but .which canube most conveniently put away in the hollow that the ngclnie alflfords ,in an adjoining room, whence it can as Conveniently be re- move . n t e lecture room will be found the most perfect wiring for electrical 10